Howard Roark is the central character of Rand's The Fountainhead. He is described as very masculine in appearance. He is muscular and possesses orange hair and gray eyes. He gives a sense of apathy, almost an absence of emotion, as is exemplified by his contemptuous mouth and cold, steady eyes (Rand 16). Roark is Rand's expression of the ideal man. Roark's red hair isn't as common as other hair colors, which furthers his individuality. His physical strength also symbolizes his robustness in pursuing individualism. He is an extreme individualist and persistent. Roark is selfish, but doesn't focus on being acknowledged by others. This is more clearly defined by his willingness to help Keating complete his designing jobs and allowance of Keating to be accredited for his work. Roark is concerned only with creation--not how others perceive it, but his own abilities and values, which promotes his persistence. This persistence is most evident in his undeferred ambition after witnessing the ruin of Henry Cameron and after experiencing some career downfalls himself. It is also prominent in the clam, indifferent manner in which he accepts his expulsion from college.
Peter Keating is identified as a young man with dark, curled hair. He is both manipulative and manipulated. Keating's motivation to thieve as much as possible from people before he disposes of them stems from the high expectations others place upon him. He aims to please society by improving its opinion of him. His dedication to his mother is a chief factor in this behavior. His mother is unsympathetic towards his happiness and encourages him to surrender all that hinders his advancements in society and employment. Her suggestions include dismissing his love for Katie Halsey to instead marry Dominique, simply for her greater beauty and reputation. To accomplish these demands, Keating often discovers that it is most convenient to eliminate competition, such as when he gets Davis and Stengel, both former coworkers of Keating at Francon & Heyer, fired. His determination eventually reaches the extent of desiring the death of Lucius Heyer and arguably causing Heyer’s death. His incentive was the opportunity to be promoted to Francon's partner in the company. Keating also often presents Roark's work as his own designs. His shallowness is excellently demonstrated after Keating's success with Roark's creation for the Cosmo-Slotnick competition. Roark's listlessness in not being recognized for his work frustrates Keating. Keating has learned that the destruction of others initiates his success. He continues to take away from Roark, but completely destroying him has been presented as an impossible task due to Roark's individualism.
Mike Donnigan is an electrician whom Roark first encounters at the inspection of a construction site for Francon & Heyer. He is a larger, older, and rather hideous man. One of his few pleasant features are his prominent blue eyes. Mike behaves very ill-mannered and harshly towards Roark during their first interaction. After he realizes the value of the advice that Roark offers him to improve his practice, he becomes very friendly. He develops a friendship with Roark as he continues to visit the construction site and even works on the construction of Roark's first architectural job. Mike supports Roark's individualistic philosophy, unlike most people. Their friendship represents society's potential to accept Roark's individuality if it suppressed its fear of change. Mike gives the impression of being temperamental towards strangers, but reacts affectionately towards his friends.
Dominique Francon's most impressive feature to many is her physical beauty. She is tall, thin, and well-dressed with blond hair. She is extremely straightforward, which contributes to the image of her individualism. Keating is the first to become familiar with this characteristic. It becomes apparant to him that Dominique could pose a threat to his career after she insults one of his designs for Francon & Heyer in a review. Despite this, Keating remains entranced with her beauty and convinces himself at one point that he is falling in love with her.
Henry Cameron is an unappreciated architect due to his practice of modernistic style. The white that flecks his black beard and hair proves his age, while his dark eyes are the only reminiscence of his lost youth, reflecting the condition of his career. He is still passionate about his architectural work, but the rejection of society continues to inhibit his progress (Rand 47). Cameron is an obsessive worker, which results in too much stress and eventually the closure of his failed business. This description shows the failing health of his body due to stress, but also the unwavering determination visible in his eyes. Cameron always possessed some element of individualism. He originally practiced the classic style of architecture, but occasionally created a radically different design. His work was popular until he completely abandoned classicism. He hires Roark for a period of time and they develop a traditional friendship. He supports and encourages Roark to persist with his own beliefs until his death.
Peter Keating is identified as a young man with dark, curled hair. He is both manipulative and manipulated. Keating's motivation to thieve as much as possible from people before he disposes of them stems from the high expectations others place upon him. He aims to please society by improving its opinion of him. His dedication to his mother is a chief factor in this behavior. His mother is unsympathetic towards his happiness and encourages him to surrender all that hinders his advancements in society and employment. Her suggestions include dismissing his love for Katie Halsey to instead marry Dominique, simply for her greater beauty and reputation. To accomplish these demands, Keating often discovers that it is most convenient to eliminate competition, such as when he gets Davis and Stengel, both former coworkers of Keating at Francon & Heyer, fired. His determination eventually reaches the extent of desiring the death of Lucius Heyer and arguably causing Heyer’s death. His incentive was the opportunity to be promoted to Francon's partner in the company. Keating also often presents Roark's work as his own designs. His shallowness is excellently demonstrated after Keating's success with Roark's creation for the Cosmo-Slotnick competition. Roark's listlessness in not being recognized for his work frustrates Keating. Keating has learned that the destruction of others initiates his success. He continues to take away from Roark, but completely destroying him has been presented as an impossible task due to Roark's individualism.
Mike Donnigan is an electrician whom Roark first encounters at the inspection of a construction site for Francon & Heyer. He is a larger, older, and rather hideous man. One of his few pleasant features are his prominent blue eyes. Mike behaves very ill-mannered and harshly towards Roark during their first interaction. After he realizes the value of the advice that Roark offers him to improve his practice, he becomes very friendly. He develops a friendship with Roark as he continues to visit the construction site and even works on the construction of Roark's first architectural job. Mike supports Roark's individualistic philosophy, unlike most people. Their friendship represents society's potential to accept Roark's individuality if it suppressed its fear of change. Mike gives the impression of being temperamental towards strangers, but reacts affectionately towards his friends.
Dominique Francon's most impressive feature to many is her physical beauty. She is tall, thin, and well-dressed with blond hair. She is extremely straightforward, which contributes to the image of her individualism. Keating is the first to become familiar with this characteristic. It becomes apparant to him that Dominique could pose a threat to his career after she insults one of his designs for Francon & Heyer in a review. Despite this, Keating remains entranced with her beauty and convinces himself at one point that he is falling in love with her.
Henry Cameron is an unappreciated architect due to his practice of modernistic style. The white that flecks his black beard and hair proves his age, while his dark eyes are the only reminiscence of his lost youth, reflecting the condition of his career. He is still passionate about his architectural work, but the rejection of society continues to inhibit his progress (Rand 47). Cameron is an obsessive worker, which results in too much stress and eventually the closure of his failed business. This description shows the failing health of his body due to stress, but also the unwavering determination visible in his eyes. Cameron always possessed some element of individualism. He originally practiced the classic style of architecture, but occasionally created a radically different design. His work was popular until he completely abandoned classicism. He hires Roark for a period of time and they develop a traditional friendship. He supports and encourages Roark to persist with his own beliefs until his death.